Long-term foreign residents must subscribe to national health insurance from July 16

Foreign residents in Korea who default on state health insurance fees will be required to personally pay for all medical costs. Gettyimagesbank

By Park Si-soo

Starting July 16, foreigners who have lived in South Korea for more than six months will have to subscribe to the national health insurance, which is now optional for expats who don't work for local companies.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced this on Tuesday after a revised public health law won Cabinet approval. Foreign students will be exempt until March 2021.

The minimum monthly premium is 113,050 won, which can go up depending on income, property and other financial conditions.